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“O Israel[a] and Judah,
    what should I do with you?” asks the Lord.
“For your love vanishes like the morning mist
    and disappears like dew in the sunlight.
I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—
    to slaughter you with my words,
    with judgments as inescapable as light.
I want you to show love,[b]
    not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me[c]
    more than I want burnt offerings.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:4 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel.
  2. 6:6a Greek version translates this Hebrew term as to show mercy. Compare Matt 9:13; 12:7.
  3. 6:6b Hebrew to know God.

What shall I do with you, (A)Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, Judah?
For your loyalty is like a (B)morning cloud,
And like the dew which goes away early.
Therefore I have (C)cut them in pieces by the prophets;
I have slain them by the (D)words of My mouth;
And the judgments on you are like the light that [a]shines.
For (E)I [b]desire loyalty (F)rather than sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:5 Lit proceeds
  2. Hosea 6:6 Or take pleasure in

“What can I do with you, Ephraim?(A)
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears.(B)
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
    I killed you with the words of my mouth(C)
    then my judgments go forth like the sun.[a](D)
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(E)
    and acknowledgment(F) of God rather than burnt offerings.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.